Graham will object to any such bill on Wednesday, meaning it will not move forward on its legislative journey
Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito involved in the controversy
Renewed calls for ethics reforms in the US Supreme Court following disclosures about unreported gifts and travel by some justices
Senate Democrats led by Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse have been pushing for ethics legislation in response to these disclosures
Senator Lindsey Graham blocks ethics reform bill for US Supreme Court
Thomas belatedly disclosed luxury vacations paid for by conservative billionaire Harlan Crow, while Alito faced calls to recuse himself from election-related cases due to a flag associated with the far right being reported above one of his homes and controversial remarks made by him and his wife
In recent days, there have been renewed calls for ethics reforms in the US Supreme Court following disclosures about unreported gifts and travel by some justices. Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican and the top-ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has announced his intention to block any attempts by Democrats to pass an ethics bill for the court.
The latest revelations involve Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. Thomas belatedly disclosed luxury vacations paid for by conservative billionaire Harlan Crow in the court record last week, while Alito faced calls to recuse himself from election-related cases due to a flag associated with the far right being reported above one of his homes and controversial remarks made by him and his wife.
Senate Democrats, led by Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, have been pushing for ethics legislation in response to these disclosures. They argue that the highest court in the land should not have the lowest ethical standards.
However, Graham has stated that he will object to any such bill on Wednesday, meaning it will not move forward on its legislative journey. This outcome was predetermined given the narrow divide in the Senate and deep Republican opposition to Congress taking action to impose stricter ethics rules on the justices.
Progressives have been ramping up their demands for more aggressive action in the Senate, but it remains to be seen whether any meaningful reforms will be implemented.
It is important to note that this article does not draw conclusions or make calls to action. It simply reports the facts as they stand.
Senator Lindsey Graham has announced he will block Democrats’ attempts to pass an ethics bill for the US Supreme Court.
New evidence regarding ethical considerations of some Supreme Court justices, specifically Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, has emerged.
Thomas belatedly disclosed luxury vacations paid for by conservative billionaire Harlan Crow in the court record last week.
Alito faced calls to recuse himself from election-related cases due to a flag associated with the far right being reported above one of his homes and controversial remarks made by him and his wife.
Senate Republicans blocked a Democratic-sponsored bill that would require Supreme Court justices to adopt a binding code of conduct.
New evidence regarding ethical considerations of some Supreme Court justices, specifically Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, has emerged.
Accuracy
Republicans argued the bill is an
Senate Democrats made an attempt to pass Supreme Court ethics and transparency legislation in response to disclosures about justices taking unreported gifts and travel.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(75%)
The article contains a few informal fallacies and appeals to authority. It does not contain any formal logical fallacies. The author quotes multiple senators making statements, some of which contain inflammatory rhetoric and ad hominem attacks.
. . . Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., led a group of GOP senators in blocking the Democratic request, effectively stalling the legislation.
Graham called the bill an “unconstitutional overreach” that would “undermine the court’s ability to operate effectively.” He was joined by Sens. John Kennedy, R-La., Mike Lee, R-Utah, and others in objecting.
Kennedy said on the floor Wednesday, accusing Democrats of pushing it because they’re angry that the court overruled Roe v. Wade.
In his floor speech, Durbin argued that the vote “should not be a partisan issue,” adding that it would be a “good thing” for both the court and the country.
Ocasio-Cortez claims the court has been captured and corrupted by money and extremism.
Public confidence in the court has reached near historic lows.
Thomas officially disclosed that he took luxury vacations paid for by conservative billionaire Harlan Crow.
Alito's wife flew an upside down US flag and an Appeal to Heaven flag associated with Christian nationalism following the attack on the Capitol by extremist Trump supporters.
Accuracy
The US Supreme Court is facing a crisis of legitimacy according to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Thomas officially disclosed that he took luxury vacations paid for by conservative billionaire Harlan Crow and Alito faced scrutiny for flying on a private jet and vacationing with a billionaire who later had business before the court.
Alito’s wife flew an upside down US flag and an Appeal to Heaven flag associated with Christian nationalism following the attack on the Capitol by extremist Trump supporters.
Democrats have called for Alito to recuse himself from cases involving Trump and January 6 defendants, but he declined.
The Supreme Court lacks a binding code of conduct which leaves nothing to rein in the justices according to Raskin.
Deception
(35%)
The article contains selective reporting and emotional manipulation. The author quotes Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez making accusations against the US supreme court, implying that it has been 'captured and corrupted by money and extremism.' While the statements made by Ocasio-Cortez are not inherently deceptive, the article's title sensationalizes her comments, creating an emotional response in readers. Additionally, the author selectively reports on ethics scandals involving Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito without mentioning any context or counterarguments. This creates a one-sided view of the situation.
Democrats have introduced a myriad of bills such as one to establish an independent ethics office and internal investigations counsel within the supreme court.
The highest court in the land today has the lowest ethical standards.
The US supreme court has been 'Captured and corrupted by money and extremism', provoking a 'crisis of legitimacy' that threatens the stability of US democracy, warned Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Sustained scrutiny of the justices prompted the court to adopt its first code of ethics last year, but it lacks any form of enforcement. Meanwhile, public confidence in the court has plummeted to near historic lows.
Fallacies
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(80%)
The author, Lauren Gambino, expresses a clear bias against the US supreme court and its justices by repeatedly using negative language to describe them as 'captured and corrupted by money and extremism', 'delegitimizing itself through its conduct', and having 'the lowest ethical standards'. She also quotes Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez making similar accusations. The author does not provide any counterarguments or evidence to challenge these claims, indicating a strong bias against the supreme court.
Americans are losing fundamental rights because the court has been captured and corrupted by money and extremism
The highest court in the land today has the lowest ethical standards
The US supreme court has been 'Captured and corrupted by money and extremism'
Senate Democrats made an attempt to pass Supreme Court ethics and transparency legislation in response to disclosures about justices taking unreported gifts and travel.
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat from Rhode Island, wrote legislation on ethics and transparency for the Supreme Court last year.
Accuracy
Republicans claimed that Democrats were trying to intimidate the justices with this bill.
The outcome of the vote was predetermined due to deep Republican opposition and the narrow divide in the Senate.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
The author does not commit any formal or informal fallacies in this article. However, there are instances of dichotomous depiction and appeals to authority. The Democrats and Republicans are depicted as having opposing views on the ethics crisis at the Supreme Court and whether the proposed legislation is about improving or undermining it. This creates a false dichotomy between these two positions, as both sides could argue that their position is about addressing the ethics crisis in some way. Additionally, Senator Lindsey Graham's statement that Democrats are trying to intimidate the justices can be seen as an appeal to authority, as he does not provide any evidence to support this claim.
]The move by Democrats came as progressives have been ramping up their demands for more aggressive action in the Senate.[/
Senator Lindsey Graham plans to object to a Judiciary Committee proposal to rein in the Supreme Court ethics.
,
Accuracy
Senate Republicans blocked a Democratic-sponsored bill that would require Supreme Court justices to adopt a binding code of conduct.
Thomas officially disclosed that he took luxury vacations paid for by conservative billionaire Harlan Crow and Alito faced scrutiny for flying on a private jet and vacationing with a billionaire who later had business before the court.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
The author makes several statements in this article that are not fallacious, but there is one instance of an appeal to emotion. The author quotes Representative Jamie Raskin making inflammatory statements about the Supreme Court justices accepting millions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts from their 'so-called friends.' This statement is intended to elicit an emotional response from the reader, but it does not provide any evidence or reasoning to support the claim that these gifts are unethical or illegal. Therefore, I am deducting 5 points for this fallacy.
“It's just the normal business as usual at the Supreme Court, that they're collecting millions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of dollars from their so-called friends.”
